The editorial board of the Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is issuing this Expression of Concern regarding the inclusion of reference number 25 in one of the recently published articles in this journal (1).
Reference 25:
Ma Y, He B, Jiang M, Yang Y, Wang C, Huang C, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of cancer-related fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020;111:103707.
Concern Raised:
The relevance of this reference to the main article has been questioned due to the distinct contexts of the two works:
• The main article investigates how depression affects maternal mental representations during pregnancy and its implications for maternal and fetal health.
• The referenced study explores the prevalence and risk factors of cancer-related fatigue, emphasizing depression as one of the associated factors.
While both studies address depression as a critical determinant of health outcomes, the reference focuses on a specific oncology-related context that differs significantly from the article’s primary focus on perinatal depression.
Editorial Review
After consulting with the corresponding author, they explained that the reference was included due to its relevance to the overarching theme of depression and its systemic impacts. However, the editorial board acknowledges that this connection may be indirect and peripheral to the article’s specific focus.
To ensure transparency, we are issuing this Expression of Concern to inform our readers about this potential issue. We encourage our readers to pay particular attention to the context and relevance of reference 25 when interpreting the findings and conclusions of the article.
Commitment to Research Integrity
The Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity. We thank our readers and reviewers for their diligence in identifying this issue, and we will continue to take appropriate actions to uphold the quality and relevance of the content we publish.
Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Mehran Zarghami
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran
